InfoBionic MoMe® Kardia System

Background

InfoBionic’s MoMe® Kardia is a market-shifting ambulatory cardiac monitoring system used to diagnose and manage patients with cardiac arrhythmias. A compact, holster monitor continually transmits data to a remote cardiac monitoring platform, which replicates in-hospital monitoring and enables cardiac data to be delivered direct to physicians for 24/7 on-demand review. Since introducing their disruptive model in key USA territories at the start of 2017, InfoBionic exceeded expectation for market acceptance, reporting an average month-over-month new customer growth rate of 50 percent.

The Context and Challenge

Cardiac arrhythmia is a serious disease that requires constant monitoring. Experiencing the sudden, unexpected and uncontrolled onset of a racing heart can be frightening for a patient. InfoBionic wanted superior elements that, when stitched together, offered a one-stop, real-time diagnostic system that had previously not been available. Infobionic knew their system would not work without patient adherence. Infobionic reached out to DDSTUDIO to design and develop a wearable solution that would be comfortable for patients and easy to adapt into their day to day lives.

Process and Insight

Project kick-off begins with understanding the user’s motives and needs in context and alignment with our client’s product objectives for cost reduction and fast and easy battery change. In addition, they wanted engineering implementation of the new design for volume and production.

Research: The first step was to look at similar products already in the market and spend time with patients and physicians to understand their needs. It was important for our designers to observe the current solution first-hand.

Research revealed that the patient wanted a slim, lightweight and portable device that was easy to use and clean. Since continuous wear and accuracy is essential, the device had to be unobtrusive in the patients daily routine and comfortable, and easy to operate with a single button. Patients also have higher consumer-like expectations for products, so the device design needed to be modern tech feel.

Design and Engineering: Concept creation: look and feel must be attractive and appropriate for a wearable device, with physical touch points that are discreet, intuitive and ergonomically correct. This included how the monitor would be clipped onto the body and connected to a power source, resulting in design of a belt clip and battery charger.

The team designed concepts for the enclosure and battery attachment options. Then they created mock-ups evaluate body approach and body attachments. In parallel, we designed the user interface flow and display states as well as sourced optimum LED lighting, speakers, power source components to meet BOM costs and manufacturing requirements.

The Solution

The designers and engineers worked together to create a solution that delivered a visually striking consumer tech aesthetic that also met usability, technical, manufacturing, cost and schedule requirements. The monitor is like a well-used bar of soap, soft against the body and easy to clean. The UI screen is discreetly integrated behind a cover and hidden until lit. The visual display information is enhanced with an appropriate and comforting audio presence. Critical alerts and brand visibility are accentuated through emotionally-based visual and audio messaging. This is unique and personalized to the InfoBionic range of products.

The Result

InfoBionic reports “market-shifting” response from patients and physicians using the system. Significant market traction in 2017 resulted in nearly a 600 percent growth in both new customers and annually recurring revenue over the previous year. The company reported newly installed customers grew by 50 percent, quarter over quarter in 2017. InfoBionic customers include one of the largest cardiology practices in the U.S., as well as small and large health systems.